Statesboro Magazine transitions to Morris Multimedia

Publication to continue its mission and high quality style

For seven years, people in Statesboro and Bulloch County have seen their friends and neighbors on the cover and in the pages of one of the finest community lifestyle magazines in the South, Statesboro Magazine. Many local family stories have been archived for future generations to enjoy and discover the part their ancestors played in the growth of Statesboro from a dusty crossroads to a dynamic city that draws countless new residents, new businesses, and new students every single year. The publication of each issue has become a much-anticipated event. In its pages, readers learn things they didn’t know about those they’ve known all their lives. Beyond the human interest stories were the stories of how some longtime businesses managed to survive through the decades and how our educational institutions thrived when others in the South did not. It’s been the story of a town, showcased in beautiful color and shared throughout the country when friends and family mail copies to those who’ve moved away. Last week, it was announced that this award-winning magazine was acquired by Morris Multimedia, Inc., one of the largest, privately held media companies in the U.S. Today, we celebrate its success and confirm that this well-loved magazine will continue to grow and become even better as the years pass. Because of the efforts of Charles H. Morris and Andrea Powell, the magazine will continue to expand, yet remain loyal to its mission and culture. “This purchase is consistent with our vision for growing our company through publications intended for both broadly based audiences as well as very targeted audiences,” said Morris, Chairman of the Board of Morris Multimedia. Morris is expanding into community magazines throughout the Southeast as he sees them as very complementary to his other related media enterprises in serving the communities in which they are located. Founded by Andrea B. Powell in Statesboro, Georgia, in the spring of 2000, Statesboro Magazine became one of the finest publications in communities of its size and larger, throughout the state of Georgia and the Southeast. Powell was named 2006 Small Business Journalist of the Year for Georgia by the U. S. Small Business Administration, due in large part to the quality and function of Statesboro Magazine. In March of 2005, Mayor Bill Hatcher issued a proclamation on behalf of Powell’s efforts and Statesboro Magazine to promote economic development in Statesboro and Bulloch County. “I want to personally say thank you to our readers and our advertisers who have shown tremendous support for this magazine since its first issue,” said Powell. “Seven years ago, I had a dream to showcase, through human-interest stories, why this town is the best place in America to live, work, and play. Statesboro Magazine’s mission was always to promote economic development and attract visitors and new residents to the area. As Statesboro Magazine joins the Morris family of publications, I see a whole new realm of opportunity.”Powell said the magazine’s success came because “of a talented and dedicated staff that shared my vision for how a magazine can archive the community’s story in a human interest style.” She states that as a community prospers, small businesses will continue to open and provide encouragement for others to do the same. “I know that Mr. Morris values what the magazine has become and wishes to continue its mission,” she concluded. The same talented and dedicated staff of Statesboro Magazine also produced many other publications that the community has enjoyed, including the Bulloch County School System’s FOCUS magazine that received the 2004 Beacon Award from the Georgia School Board Association for the positive impact FOCUS has on local public education. The staff also produced Georgia Southern’s high quality football program called the Endzone for the past three years. Four people, besides Andrea, have been part of the magazine since its inception. Karen Powell, as editor, sought editorial that truly highlighted how Statesboro was, and continues to be, blessed with unusually dedicated people and families that established a rare combination of quality of life, outstanding education opportunities at all levels, and a vibrant and diverse economic base. Ric Mandes, as a consultant, provided insight, ideas, and encouragement. Finally, Frank Fortune, as a freelance photographer, showcased the magazine’s feature stories in an eye-catching, vivid style. In addition, it should be noted that Fortune photographed every single cover of Statesboro Magazine. The magazine’s graphic design helped brand it as one of the finest in the Southeast. From the beginning, Amanda Galpin provided the creative inspiration for the “look” that readers and advertisers admire.

In the summer of 2005, Jenny Starling Foss joined the staff as Director of Sales and Marketing, as well as Assistant Editor. Her involvement in the community’s hospitality industry over the past 20 years enabled her to offer ideas on not only marketing but interesting editorial.

As the magazine transitions, each of these key players will remain on board to be sure the magazine continues its look and its level of quality.

Karen Powell, who will continue as editor of this award-winning magazine, says, “The stories about the wonderful people, places, and events in this area are what our readers love, and I look forward to this opportunity to go right on sharing them.”

“Before I joined Statesboro Magazine,” says Foss, “I read and admired every single issue and appreciated the new face that the magazine put on Bulloch County and Statesboro as a whole. I look forward to helping it transition under Morris Multimedia so our advertisers and our readers will enjoy the same quality magazine they have become accustomed to over the years.”

Morris Multimedia brings expanded resources and distribution capabilities that will allow the magazine to continue to grow and thrive. Surrounding communities contiguous to Bulloch County have asked to be part of the magazine’s editorial and distribution because of the demand from their businesses and residents to have access to this quality publication. Plans are moving forward to make this a reality.

Statesboro Magazine will always showcase and highlight all that is great about Statesboro and Bulloch County. Many readers have collected every single issue, as have GSU’s Henderson Library and the Statesboro Regional Library.

The holiday issue will be distributed before December 1, and the first issue of the New Year will be out the last week of January 2007. The magazine’s office is located at 6 N. Walnut Street in Statesboro.

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